Le Morte Arthur (lines 728-759)

And then one day the King set forth

      To hunt with all his knights;

They rode to the forest for the chase,

     The sport and its delights.

But Lancelot planned to see the Queen

     And so lay long in bed,

They went to meet her in her room,

     And gracious greeting said.

 First he kissed her courteously,

     That lady full of grace,

And then her maids whose joy ran down

     In tears on every face.

‘Ah, Lancelot,’  said the Queen, ‘that ever

     I set my eyes on you!

Alas that it is gone for ever,

     The love that we once knew!

‘Alas, Sir Lancelot du Lake,    

     Who have my heart in hold,

That you have taken the Earl’s daughter,

     Of Ascolot as I’m told!

Now for her sake you cease to be

     A warrior daring-bold,

And I must wake and weep in woe

     Till clay shall clasp me cold.

 

‘But Lancelot, I beg you now,

     Since it must needs be so,

Never to tell a single soul

     Of the love we used to know,

And never to let your love for her

     Enfeeble your knightly fame,

For though my fate is woe, I wish

     To hear you win acclaim.

Trans. Brian Stone, King Arthur's Death and Le Morte D'Arthur.  London, Penguin, 1988.

Illustrations:

1. Alex Katz,  Blue Umbrella, 1979-80.

2. Alex Katz, Self-Portrait at Cheat Lake, 1969.

3. Alex Katz,  Pas de Deux,Vicki Hudspeth and Wally Turbeville, 1994.

4. Alex Katz, Pas de Deux, Red Grooms and Lizzy Ross, 1994.

5.  Alex Katz, Black Scarf, 1996.